Floral basket



H. M. POTTER Nov. 6, 19346 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 25. 1931 Nov. 1934. A H.AM. POTTER 1,979,771'

FLORAL BASKET r Filed April 23, 1931- 2 SheetS-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 u 'ES F F CE My invention is a loral container.

The main purpose of my device is a waterproof container and'basket Structure Which is peculiarly adapted to the deposit therein of owers and plants, and conserving a Very decorative eiect between the container itself and the floral contents.

Amajor object is'the construction of such a device as lends itself to many variant decorative features.

A f urther object is the method of construction whereby the handle. portions* lock the container portion to .a base .and preserve the integrity of the receptacle feature without attaching the same to thebase.

Another object *is .the imethod of construction of the receptacle portion and the method of handle construction' in' coactive relation to the receptacle andzthe base.

The attached'drawingsshow an embodiment of my device wherein Fig. l is an elevation of the primary container.

Fig. 2' is a container Withta base attached..

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the' device in the'form of a complete basket having the container upon a base, and a* handle which is part of the means for attaching the container' to the base.

Fig. 4 is. a:. Vertical section' showing the relationrof the parts with the handle forming. members in primary position.

Fig. mis a cross section of the container at 5-5 of -Fig..4.

VFig.-6 is a; sectional view of the' device'as'shown in Figf 4. but showing the inceptional crossing of the handle forming members prior to their being' twisted one around' the other.

Fig. 7 shows a method of fixing the flexible attaching members to 'the'base Fig'. 8 shows the method of attaching theends 40 of the flexible members forming thehandle, and constricting the said members to give tension to the pointvof contact with the *containen Fig; 9' is' a modified form of the zdevice, used as'a fiower box.

.As illustrated 'the device consists of a receptacle* which said *receptacle is formed out of a single sheet of Waterproof material, preferably a sheet of pliant metal: the central ,portion of the said waterproof sheet formsa bottom' 10 from which thevessel Walls 11' are drawn up into corrugationszconsisting of crinkles 12 and recesses 13 to' form a sinuous contourcircumferentially. I'WWH be observed that the corrugations in the sidewalls are 'deepest at the top; 'and run out to nothing at* .the bottom; The shape of the sheet from which' the vessel walls '1-1 are drawn up is not limited to' any 'specific contour but can be Varied in -accordance'with any desire so as to vary the elevation 'of 'different parts of the rim 14. The said reeeptacle may be used for the insertion of a pot eontaining a' plant, but the primary purpose isthe assemblage therein of floral articles composihg a floral display: and the peculiar Virtue of this corrugating of the 'walls 11 of the-receptacle is that the Various crinkles 12 tend to give fixed position and location to those elements of the floral assemblage Which are primarily designed to :be frontally displayed, and are directly operative in maintaining the position' of the en* tirety of 'the floral articles inserted in such receptaole' 10 and intended to -be displayed thereby.

The'crinkles lz'and the recesses 13 subserve this Very 'desirable' resultwholly in addition' to the peculiar ornamental character of the vessel itself. 75

In Fig. .3 I* show the receptacle 10 in relation to an ornamental base 15: this said base 15 has in it la: plurality of holes 16 at least two of the sameone on either side of the base 15, as re lated to' the receptaclelO. Into these holes 16 are inserted ends of* flexible rods 17, such as reeds -and which' are fixedlyattached' to 'the base 15 by a nail 19 driventhrough a portion of the base and through the inserted portion of the flexible' rods 17; but the said flexible rods may be held permanently in' the base by* some other normal method: the principle here being that the flexible rods 17 so inserted shall be permanently therein* imbedded;

The flexible members 1 7 attached thus to the base 15' are designed to be placed so adjaoen't to the .walls :1'1 of the receptacle 10 that'they Will position the receptacle 10 centrally on the'base' 15'; and each said. flexible attaching devi'ce 17 is somewhat resiliently placed in one of the recesses 13 of :thecrinkled'walls 12 to a point practically adjacent the rim 14 of the receptacle. A'd ja'cent to the rim 14. of the receptacle the flexible attaching member'l'? is pinched into connection with the Wall of the container by some means, such as what may be called a* hog-ring, as shown at 20 in Fgst 4, 5, and 6. Although I prefer'to use. ablock of wood' for the base 15 the' same may be of any material Which Will forma decorative supporting base of desirable character.

In various figures of the drawings I show a loop handle' in combination With the receptacle 10' and' base 15, forming *a floral basket. This handle comprisesthe flexible members 17, which not only fixedly attach' the container 10 to the central mass background:

base 15, but also by continuation into a bow or loop over the receptacle constitute a handle for transporting the said device as a unit. I preferably perforate the base 15 with four holes 16 so positioned in the base 15 that there will be practically an even distribution of the said holes 16 to provide that the receptacle will be seated within the circuit of said holes and be normally positioned thereby on the base 15. In using four of said holes with the corresponding flexible members 17 I preier to place two flexible members 17 on either side of the receptacle 10 in crinkled channels somewhat adjacent each other on either side, as shown in Fig. 4. After placing the said flexible members 17 in such position on either side I pin them to the receptacle as shown in Figs. j

4, 5, and 6 with attaching devices 20. The flexible members 17 are then twisted as shown in Fig. 4 creating a primary tension upon the walls of the receptacle 10, and then the same are drawn across each other as shown in Fig. 76, at 26 the free ends of each pair of flexible members 17 being twisted around the other pair and brought to an attaching point somewhat near where the flexible members 17 are in contact with the rim 14 of the receptacle. At the point where the ends of the twisted members 22 and 23 terminate a constricting device 25 is applied which serves to fix the ends of the flexible members and at the same time draw the individual members 22 and 23 of each pair of flexible members together, thus increasing the locking tension of the flexible members 17 upon the channel walls of .the crinkled body of the receptacle.

I show a modified form of the device in Fig. 9, which is designed to provide a species of flower box. The means of attaching the waterproof receptacle at either end to the base 15 is a flexible member 24 in the form of a staple; its prongs being inserted in the holes 16 of the base 15, the bent portions extending up above the rim 14 to act as handles; the said staple resting in the recesses 13 and being fixedly associated with the walls 11 by the clips 20.

It Will be readily observable that the receptacle 5 10 can be formed out of any shaped sheet of waterproof material and give to the rim 14' any contour desired for practical or ornamental purposes. The device makes unusual provision for the assemblage of a bouquet, or combination of flowers, or floral decorations; by reason of the fact that the stems of plants, leaves and foliage will automatically drop into these crinkles and remain positioned and provide a holding for a the crinkles and wrinkles can be so formed that they will automatically position anything placed therein. The device is also peculiarly adapted to the assemblage therein of growing plants and even the deposit therein of a potted plant. It will be readily observable that the receptacle portion is subject to the most artistic decorative treatment: and in' the basket formation the handle can be treated artistically, in harmony with the recepj tacle and base, offering a heretofore unknown opportunity.

I do not limit myself to the device as shown except insofar as I am limited by the scope of m claims.

I' claim- 1. In a floral pot the combination of a base having Vertical apertures therein; flexible handle members having terminals anchored in the apertures in said base, a receptacle formed from a single piece of pliant metal drawn up into a Vessel form assembled on said base and confned by said handle members, the drawn up portions of said receptacle being crimped into crinkles flaring upwardly and outwardly, sinuous in their circular contour; the handle members being so positioned that the metal receptacle is seated lockingly between opposing handle members, said handle members being adapted to align between certain channels of the crinkled receptacle walls and lock the'said metal receptacle to the base, means adjacent the rim oi the receptacle for gripping the handle members to the metal receptacle, the handle being for-med by twisting the handle members upon each other inducing a resiliency in the handle portion and causing the same to coact with the metal receptacle.

2. A floral basket comprising a base member, a receptacle mounted thereon formed from a single sheet of pliant metal the said single sheet of pliant metal having a base portion at the center thereof and outwardly flaring sides drawn upward from the said base, said sides being corrugated with the corrugations running in an up and down direction, the said corrugations providing channels for fixedly positioning floral elemente assembled in said receptacle handle mem bers having terminal portions fixedly attached to the base member and portions thereof seated in recesses of selected corrugation channels; attaching means securing together the handle members and the corrugated walls of the receptacle whereby to lockingly attach the receptacle to the base and provide handle portions for transportation.

3. In a floral basket the combination of a metal basket member and a handle formed of reeds; the said basket member being formed out of a single sheet of pliant metal, there being a central base portion and walls drawn up therefrom, the said walls being crinkled into sinuous flaring 'Vertical channels; the reeds forming the handle having portions thereof lying in recesses of the channelled walls and flxedly attached to the metal basket member by gripping means spaced from the rim of the metal member.

4. In a floral container, a base having spaced apertures therethrough, a receptacle mounted upon said base between said apertures, said receptacle being formed of sheet metal and having deeply corrugated side walls, the corrugations of which are adapted to hold and support flower stems, and a handle formed as a loop, the ends of the handle being secured in said apertures and the lower portions extending into opposite corrugations of the receptacle wall.

5. In a floral container, a base having spaced apertures therethrough, a receptacle mounted upon said base between said apertures, said re ceptacle being formed of sheet metal and having deeply corrugated side walls, the corrugations of which are adapted to hold and support flower stems, a handle formed as a loop, the ends of the handle being secured in said apertures and the lower portions extending into opposite corrugations of the receptacle wall, and handle engaging members mounted upon the receptacle extending' across said opposite corrugations outside the handle elements.

6. In a floral container, a base, a loop handle, the ends of said handle being secured to the base in spaced relation, a receptacle formed from a' single piece of sheet metal shaped up into a vessel form, the shaped up 'portions being corrugated in an up and down direction, said receptacle being mounted upon the base with opposite corrugations embracing the lower portions of the loop handle, and means for securing the receptacle and handle against relative movement.

7. In a floral container, a base, a ioop handle, the ends of said handle being Secured to the base in spaced relation, a receptacle formed from a single piece of sheet metal shaped up into a vessel form, the shaped up portions being corrugated in an up and down direction, and the corrugations running out at the bottom of the receptacle, said receptacle being mounted upon the base With opposite oorrugations embracing the lower portions of the loop handle, the bottom of the receptacle fitting snugly between the ends of the handle at their junction With the base, and means for attaching the handle to the said opposite corrugations.

8. In a floral container, a non-metallic base, said base having spaced apertures formed therein at right' angles to the surface of the base, a receptacle mounted upon said base, said receptacle having side Wails flared outwardly from the bottom thereof, and the bottom being of a Width approximateiy the same as the distance between said apertures, and a loop handle of resilient material, the ends of Which fit snugiy within said apertures and are anchored therein, Whereby the' lower portions of the handle are resiliently held against the side walls of the receptacle, and means for attaching the handle to the side walls near the upper end of the receptacle.

9. A floral basket comprising a one-piece sheet metal bottom and sides, the sides being fiared out- Wardly and upwardly from the bottom, the side walls being corrugated in an up and down direction, the corrugations running out at the bottom and being relatively deep at the top, Whereby the stems of fiowers making up a bouquet may be definitely held in selected positions, and a handle attached to the basket within oppositely arranged corrugations.

10. In an article of the character described, the combination of a base member, a fluid retaining container having fiuted walls and disposed on said base member, a handle having a plurality of strands extending downwardly along side and into the recessed portions of said fluted walls and connecting With said base member, said strands serving to retain said handle, base and container in a cooperative assembled relation.

11. A floral container comprising a base, a seamless fluid retaining vessel disposed on said base, said Vessel having a flat bottom from Which Wa11s With flutes of increasing size rise and terminate irregularly to form serrated edges around the rim of the vessel to present an artistic appearance, and a handle composed of a plurality of entWined strands, Certain of said strands extending downwardly into the troughs of said flutes and connecting With said base to hold the base, vessel and handle in assembled relation.

HOWARD M. POT'I'ER. 

